A Resurrected Life Like His – The Newness Of Life In Christ

Let's start this message out with a pop quiz. Don't worry you should already know the answer to all of the questions. Don't you wish the pop quizzes you took in school were that easy? The questions prove this message based on God's Word is true.

1) Is the Word of God true?

2) Is the Word of God perfect?

3) Does God use His Word to speak to you?

4) Did Jesus ever commit a sin?

5) Have you ever committed a sin?

Don't be afraid to admit you have gone against the will of God & sinned because that's something we have all done. The apostle Paul stated that in the book of Romans. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” In Ecclesiastes King Solomon, a man of great wisdom, writes, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” John the prophet also had something to write on this subject. In the Book of 1 John he tells us “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

The Bible makes it clear that we all miss the mark when it comes to following the will of God all the time. We have all fallen. Our loving Heavenly Father knew this would happen & graciously provided a cure for the disease of sin. He paid the ransom for our souls. What was necessary for our sins to be forgiven?

In Hebrews we are told “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22) Blood had to be shed for forgiveness of sin. God accepted the pure sin-free blood of His one & only Son as the atonement necessary for our sin. We were not created to live under the weight of sin. When we knowingly go against His Word the Spirit gives us a sense of conviction in our hearts & we feel heavy with regret & guilt. Do you want to go through life feeling guilty? He wants us to be free of that. In His great mercy & grace God forgives us when we fall short of His will.

God made the ultimate sacrifice by sentencing His sinless Son Jesus to die on the cross; one of the most cruel deaths imaginable. We are to come to Him for forgiveness. In 2 Corinthians Paul wrote, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (1 Corinthians 5:21) When we accept Christ as our Savior God sees the righteousness of Jesus instead of our wickedness. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The world we live in is full of sin & temptation. With that being the case we could fall to the same sin more than once. God will show love & mercy & forgive us for what we've done. But these repeated sins will affect our fellowship with our Heavenly Father.

If we repeat the same sin what does that show?

It hinders our relationship with God. The sin clouds our mind & takes focus away from where it should be. This is something that we should not take lightly. It will cost us. It is one of the greatest hinderances from clearly hearing the voice of God.

We all fight battles with sin & temptation. And we have all fallen to them. When we ask for forgiveness God covers us with the righteousness of His Son & sets us free from condemnation. (Romans 8:1) However, if we pass the point of committing a sin to harboring, or giving refuge, to a sin it is a major problem. It could get to the point we will accept this action as part of who we are; just something we do. When we accept this as part of who we are we still hear the Spirit speaking to us & telling us it is wrong but we ignore the warning & go ahead & do it. There is likely one area of life we are all guilty of doing this. I know there is for me. You'll know what it is for you because it will be the first thing that comes to your mind. You know it's wrong but you fall into the pit of sin regardless of the warning of the Spirit.

What is temptation, & how can we overcome it?

There are many cases in the Bible where people fell because of temptation. One of the most famous could be when David gawked at Bathsheba. Satan knows where you are weakest & he will lure you into his grasp with this temptation. Thankfully the Bible also tells us temptation is out there & we are to be on the lookout for it. In 1 Corinthians Paul wrote, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) Did it say that God will keep the temptations away? No, but He will “provide a way of escape.” Matthew tells us a way to overcome this temptation. In Matthew 26:41 we read, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew tells us to watch & pray. Be on guard from the evil temptations that are out there. Pray for the power to stay on the path of righteousness. Don't be tempted into repeating that same sin over & over. Take the way of escape.